Flourish Community Hub announced Monday it purchased a downtown Gary building from Bethel Church & Ministries that most recently housed City Life Center.
The acquisition establishes the organization’s second campus, complementing its existing location in the city’s Glen Park neighborhood and significantly expanding its capacity to serve the community, Flourish said in a release.
The building, at 225 W. 5th Ave., once served as the city’s Boys & Girls Club and originally opened as the Gary YMCA.
“We envision this facility as a central hub for community gathering and local economic development,” said Dexter Harris, executive director of Flourish Community Hub. “Working alongside the City of Gary and our incredible community partners, we’re ready to build something lasting.”
Meanwhile, City Life Center executive director Josh Austin said Monday his organization would remain in the building as a tenant and continue to offer after-school childcare programs.
Mayor Eddie Melton praised Flourish’s expansion.
“We are incredibly proud to see Flourish Community Hub expand its footprint into downtown Gary,” said Melton in a statement. “This new campus will breathe new life into the former Boys & Girls Club, ensuring it remains a cornerstone for our youth while expanding to support local entrepreneurs and families facing food insecurity. It is exactly the kind of holistic, community-focused partnership our city needs to continue moving forward.”
Bethel Church & Ministries, based in Crown Point, purchased the 41,000 square-foot building in 2013 to serve the community with after-school and summer programs. It renamed the building City Life Center.
Flourish has plans to renovate the building into a community center for children, families, entrepreneurs and neighborhood organizations. The amenities include: an indoor gymnasium and playground, a ninja gym, a weightlifting, and fitness space, a coworking space for entrepreneurs and remote professionals, a retail space for local businesses, a community café and classrooms for community learning.
Flourish will also serve as a food distribution location through a partnership with a national hunger relief organization, helping increase access to nutritious food for families throughout Northwest Indiana.
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Officials said the new campus expands Flourish Community Hub’s ability to provide recreation, workforce development, business support and food access to residents throughout Gary.
The release said more details on improvements will be announced in the coming months.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.